Top of the Class: Reed named Tech's NCAA Woman of the Year

From all the long hours of practice and games to working towards a
degree, so much time and effort goes into all of it.

In Lindsey Reed's case, she devoted every single moment of her
time toward academics, athletics and community service, becoming a
well-rounded student-athlete.

And even among a tough field of candidates, Reed's background said
it all and made her an ideal choice for the 2012 Tennessee Tech
Athletics Woman of the Year.

"Lindsey has been a role model student and a role model athlete
during her time at Tennessee Tech," said TTU athletics director
Mark Wilson. "I think it's very fitting that she was named the Tech
Woman of the Year. She's really done it all. She didn't get a whole
lot of recognition from her position on the field, but she has been
so consistent in her leadership and as a student, and we're just so
proud of her."

Reed beat out Brooke Basten (softball), Leah Bradley
(cross-country/track), Rachel Glidden (basketball), Tacarra Hayes
(basketball), Traci Jones (cross-country/track), Holly Thomas
(softball) and Emily Weinzetl (track) for this year's award and is
the second winner in as many years from the women's soccer program,
joining last year's winner Brooke Mayo.

"I am honored," Reed said Saturday via e-mail. "There are some
amazing athletes at Tech on and off the field and I am blessed to
be considered one of them."

Reed admitted that it took a lot of different things to excel as a
student-athlete.

"These last four years have taught me dedication," Reed said in a
statement to the NCAA as Tech's nominee for the national award.
"Being a student-athlete in itself takes a strong will to succeed.
In order to be a benefit to the team, I had to find the motivation
to improve on my own and find the strength of will to focus at
every practice, no matter how little sleep or how many big tests I
have to distract me. I could not have been a leader if my teammates
were not able to see my loyalty. The same can be said about the
rest of my endeavors. I need to be just as dedicated to the
community and my education in order for them not to be overshadowed
by my devotion to my soccer team. If I set my mind to research, or
helping at a school, and don't look back, there will always be time
and results. It is easy to be lazy and justify not going to
community service one week; what is missing just once? That will
turn into two and three and snowball out of control. It is much
harder to stick to your commitments, but the smiles on the kids'
faces prove to be worthwhile every time."

On the pitch, Reed played a position that didn't get a lot of
statistics, but her ability as a defender on the field was
incredibly valuable to the Tech women. Reed was one of only five
players who started every game in the 2011 campaign and played
every minute of every game.

"In the two years I've coached her, I think she played every
minute of every match," said Tech coach Daniel Brizard. "As a
defender, you're not going to get the flashy statistics, but she
helped us greatly with her experience and her calming
presence."

Reed was named the Ohio Valley Conference's Defensive Player of
the Week for her efforts in the adidas Gamecock Soccer Classic as
Tech allowed just one goal against Louisiana Tech and New Mexico
State.

"She's really meant a lot to this team," Brizard said. "Being an
upperclassman and everything she's been through, she provided some
invaluable leadership on and off the field."

Her work in the classroom was even more amazing. Graduating in May
with a 3.97 grade point average as a chemical engineering major,
Reed was also a nominee for Tennessee Tech's prestigious Derryberry
Award.

And her academic ventures aren't finished yet. Currently leading
backpacking trips for the Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp, then
heading abroad to Honduras, Reed will return to her studies in the
fall to attend medical school.

"I tell people all the time that I felt dumber just sitting in the
room with her," Brizard joked. "She's definitely the epitome of the
student-athlete. She was a great athlete and, in the classroom, she
excelled. She had that dedication and she wants to go to medical
school. Doing that after completing an engineering degree is just
amazing. It just shows you the discipline someone has and can have
if they really put their mind to it."